Central African Republic decrees a nationwide curfew

BANGUI, Central African Republic – The Central African Republic announced a countrywide curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. in a presidential decree read on state radio late Friday.

It comes as the troubled nation spirals into conflict, pitting the Muslim rebels who seized power in a coup earlier this year against the nation's mostly Christian population. Earlier this week, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius warned in an interview that the nation is on the verge of genocide.

The country's Christian president, Francois Bozize, fled the capital in March as the Seleka rebels overran the city. Rebel leader Michel Djotodia proclaimed himself president, but since taking power he has been unable to control the rebels, who have run amok over the chronically poor nation. The fighters are accused of gruesome massacres.